Sail-beefing mechanism for boats



Jan. 16, 1923.

O. LINNEMANN. SAIL REEFING MECHANISM'FOR BOATS 3 SHEETS Jam 16,1923. I H

0. LINNEMANF-L SAIL REEFING MECHANISM FOR BOATS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FILED Mm 111'. 3922.-

Jan 16, 1923.

0. LINNEMANN. SAIL REEHNG MECHANISM FOR BOATS.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

FILED APR-1B, 1922.

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

OTTO LINNEMANN, OF GLEN COVE, NEW YORK.

SAIL-KEEPING MECHANISM FOR BOATS.

Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 554,471.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro LINNEMANN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Glen Cove, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sail-Reefing Mechanism for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means for easily and quickly reefing the sail of any sail boat without the necessity of the usual tying means and my device being operable by one person positioned in theboat at a point adjacent the mast. j

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for rolling a sail upon the boom of a sailing craft whereby the area of the sail presented to the wind is easily and quickly regulated at will, the structure possessing great strength and readily installed upon the mast of any boat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for a boom and gaif whereby the boom has very universal movement with limited vertical movement and is adapted for wrapping and unwrapping the lower portions .of the sail thereon during the adjustment in position of the gait at the top of the sail.

WVith these general objects in view the invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the ac-' companying drawings and in which like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a portion of a sail boat illustrating my invention installed for use,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a forward end portion of the boom and its adjustable connection with the mast, parts being broken away and a portion of the mast being illustrated by broken lines,

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof with the operating crank removed,

Figure & is an enlarged vertical longimast,

tudinal sectional view through the boom rotating mechanism,

Flgure 5 is an elevational view of the mouth of the gafl and the means employed for slidably connecting the same to the Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon line VIVI of F ig. 5, and

Flgure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon VII-VII of Fig. 1.

My invention is employed with sail boats such as 10 having an upright mast 11 for supporting a sail 12 of suitable size, the direct object obtained by the invention belng the provision of means for winding the sall 12 upon the boom 13 to which the lower end of the sail is attached, the gait 14 at the top of the sail being adapted for vertical adjustment compensating for the reefing operation. The lower end of the sail 12 is secured by any desired means Within the longitudinal groove 56 provided in the boom 13. I

A thimble or cap 15 is fitted upon the forward end of the boom 13 with opposite side extensions 16 secured to the boom by means such as bolts 17 retaining the thimble upon the boom. A pinion 18 is secured to the closed end 19 of the cap 15 by stud bolts 20 while said pinion and cap are axially journaled for rotation upon a stub shaft 21. The said shaft 21 is carried by a housing 22 with the pinion 18 within said housing and the cap 15 projecting into the outer end of the housing through a circular opening 23 therein, a nut 24 being threaded upon the reduced free end 25 of the shaft 21 within the cap 15 for retaining the parts assembled.

It will be understood that the nut 24 is not tightened against the cap 15 to retard rotation of the latter but is prevented from accidental removal by a transverse pin 57. The housing 22 has a forwardly projecting car 26 pivoted by means of a bolt 27 to a bracket 28 whereby the boom 18 is capable of vertical swinging movement.

A post 29 is secured to the rear side of the mast 11 by having its lower end 30 attached to the mast and its upper endsecured to a substantially semi-circular sleeve 31 secured horizontally to the mast by means of hold fast devices 32. The bracket 28 is slidably mounted upon the post 29 and is also journaled upon said post for turning a partial rotation during the lateral swinging of the boom 13.

A worm 33 is horizontally journaled through upstanding lugs 34 on the housing 22 in constant mesh with the pinion 18, outwardly projecting squared hubs 35 being provided for the worm 33 with washers 36 secured upon said hubs by means of cotter pins 37 outwardly of the lugs 34. A suitable hand crank such as 38 may be readily attached to either hub 35 for turning the worm 33 and revolving the pinion 18 with the cap'15 and boom 13, whereby the lower portion'of the sail 12 which is secured to the boom 13 is wrapped around or rolled upon the said boom 13.

A sliding connection is provided between the forward end of the gafi 14 and the mast 11 in the form of a two part sheathing or sleave 39, having the parts thereof separable and normally connected together by oppositely positioned cotter pins 40 passing through perforated means 41 upon the two sections of the sleeve 39 somewhat after the manner of a pintle hinged construction. A leather lining 42 is provided for the sleeve 39 to prevent the wearing of the mast 11 during the vertical sliding adjustment of the sleeve 39 thereon. A head 43 is secured to the forward end of the gaff 14 by means of side extensions 43 oppositely positioned longitudinally of the gaff, the head 43 being for the purpose of attaching the gaff to the sleeve 39 in any desired manner as by the double link 44 connecting the eye 45 of the head 43 with a strap 46 carried by the sleeve 39.

The operation of the sail winding mechanism has already been fully described, the lowering of the gaff 14 and sleeve 39 being accomplished in the usual manner for properly positioning the sail 12 during the reef ing operation accomplished by turning the boom 13. When unwinding the sail 12 from the boom 13 the gaff 14 and sleeve 39 will be simultaneously elevated by the usual cable connections unnecessary to herein fully describe.

The aft end of the boom 13 is herein illustrated provided with a cable attaching means in the form of arcuate plates 47 substantially surrounding the boom 13 and mounted thereon by rollers 48 journaled between the free ends of the plates 47, cables such as 49 being readily attached to eyes 50 in the lower ends of the plates 47. A tube 51 rigidly connects the plates 47 together adjacent the lower sides of the plates while rods 52 connect the plates together at opposite sides. The tube 51 is extended and secured to an upright arm 53 pivoted to the free end of the boom 13 by means of a pin 54 and having an eye 55 in its upper end for receiving a rope if desired. In this manner, the ropes 49 are journaled upon the aft end of the boom 13 for laterally pulling the boom to control the sail 12 and without interfering with the rotation of the boom 13 during the reefing and unreefing of the sail 12. The aft end of the gaff 14 is also preferably provided with a similar rope attaching means to that herein described for the boom 13 although the same is not herein illustrated.

VVhatis claimed as new is 1. Reefing mechanism for boats having the lower end of the sail secured to the boom comprising a cap securedto the forward end of the boom, a vertical post upon the mast, a bracket vertically slidable and journaled upon the post, a housing carried by the cap pivoted for vertical movement to said bracket, and rotating means for the boom carried by the housing.

2. Reefing mechanism for boats having the lower end of the sail secured to the boom comprising a cap secured to the forward end of the boom, a vertical post upon the mast, a bracket vertically slidable and journaled upon the post, a housing carried by the cap pivoted for vertical movement to said bracket, a stub shaft carried by and projecting through the housing journaled through the end of the cap, a pinion secured to the end of the cap and journaled upon said shaft, and an operating worm in constant mesh with the pinion j ournaled transversely upon the housing.

In combination with the mast and boom of a boat having a sail secured to the boom, a post secured parallel rearwardly upon the mast, a vertically movable bracket pivoted upon the post, a housing pivoted to the bracket having an opening in the top and rear side thereof, a cap secured to the forward end of the boom projecting into the housing through the opening in its rearward side and a worm projecting through the top opening of the housing operatively connected to said cap whereby the boom is adapted for rotation during the reefing and unreefing operation.

4. In combination with the mast and boom of a boat havin a. sail secured to the boom, a post secured parallel rearwardly upon the mast, a vertically movable bracket pivoted upon the post, a housing pivoted to the bracket having an opening in the top and rear side thereof, a cap secured to the forward end of the boom projecting into the housing through the opening in its rearward side, ournaling means for the cap carried by the housing, a pinion upon the cap within the housing mounted upon said journaling means, and a worm journaled in thetop of the housing in operative meshing engagement with the pinion.

5. Cable attaching means for booms comprising arcuate plates adapted to surround a boom, rollers journaled between the ends of the plates in parallel relations mounted upon the upper side of the boom when the device is assembled, an arm pivoted to the free end of the boom, and rigid connections between said plates and 10 the said arm.

I In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

OTTO LINNEMANN. 

